Method of and machine for conditioning sheet articles and of and for applying minor members to sheet articles, such as envelopes, for example



1,677,735 G. C. SNYDER FOR QONDITIONING SHEET ARTICLES A MEMBERS 'ro SHEET ARTICLES,

July 17, 1928.

ND OF METHOD OF AND MACHINE AND FOR APPLYING MINOR sucn AS ENVELOPES FOR EXAMPLE Filed Oct. 2, 1924 11 Shoots-Sheet 1 I N VEN TOR.

G I? 0 r1111 (3 A T'ITIRNEY.

w z 7 t W o D m M l I sm 8 L m a T 1 TR 1 A E TEL 33 m 5 m 0 MT .R9 EMS I D Y Nu ma smmwn .0 o canons d B 0.181 GFY 1 5 "mun mum CP M A 3 8 AF F w 0% 1 DA m 7 M 1 I w J INVENTOR. George asn der A TTORNEY July-17, 1928. 1,677,735

SNYDER G. C.- HETHOD OF AND IACHINE FOR CONDITIONING SHEET ARTICLES AND OF AND FOR APPLYING MINOR MEMBERS 1'0 SHEET ARTICLES, SUCH AS ENVELOPES FOR EXAMPLE n A INVEN'I'O/f 9/00 10 (j/de/I G. C. SNYDER 3 FOR CD AND FOR APPLYING MINOR July 17, 1928.

ET ARTICLES AND 1')? H8838 T0 SHEET ARTICLES, OPES FOR METHOD OF AND MACHIN NDITIONING SHE IE SUCH AS ENVEL EXAMPLE Filed Oct. 2. 11 Sheots-$heet 4 IJVEJVTOR aa ge C. S713 den 'A TTORNEY.

1,677,735 G. C. SNYDER FOR cuss AND or mews,

July 1 7, 1928.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE CONDITIONING SHEET ARTI AND FOR APPLYING IIINOR MEMBERS T0 SHEET SUCH AS ENVELOPES FOR HXAIPLE Filed Oct. 2, 1924 11 ShOOtS-Shflflt 5 INIZEJVTOR (Zeor gJoCSrzyda/P 37 if T ORA/E) I W on m? ww x m2 G. C. SNYDER IETHOD OF AND mourns July 17, 1928.

BET ARTICLES AND or July 17, 1928.

YQQ C. Snyder G. C. SNYDER METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING SH AND FOR APPLYING MINOR MEMBERS '1'0 SHEET ARTICLES, SUCH AS ENVBLOPES FOR EXAMPLE Filed Oct. 2, 1924 11 ShOOtS-Shfifit 5;

YGeo B 2/ A TTORNEY.

July 17, 1928. 1,677,735

G. C. SNYDER METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING SHEET ARTICLES AND OF AND FOR APPLYING MINOR MEMBERS TO SHEET ARTICLES, SUCH AS ENVELOPES FOR EXANPLB Filed Oct. 2. 1924 11 Sheets-Shoot 1O A TTORNE Y.

July 17, 1928. 1,677,735

G. C. SNYDER METHOD or AND ncnnm won CONDITIONING suns-r ARTICLES AND or AND FOR APPLYING arson MEMBERS To sum ARTICLES, sucu AS anvsnorss FOR BXMIPLE Filed Oct. 2. 1924 11 ShQQtS-Shflt 11 Georgia CSr /defi JSY ATTORNE;

Patented July 17, 1928.

GEORGE C. SNYDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO KAELMA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR CONDITIONING SHEET ARTICLES AND OF AND FOR APPLYING MINOR MEMBERS TO SHEET ARTICLES, SUCH AS ENVELOPES, FOR EX- AMPLE.

Application filed October 2, 1924.

My invention relates to a method of conditioning sheet articles, such as envelopes for example, by operating upon them preferably while the articles are continuously moving, and also to a machine for performing such method, more particularly but not necessarily with a view to conditioning envelopes so that minor members. such for example as closure members, which may be in the form of handles, may be applied to the envelopes or the like during such preferable continuous movement thereof. The method and machine assumes this broad aspect because it is practical under the invention to condition paper or other envelopes or other sheet articles which do not necessarily include the application of additional materials or attachments, etc. to the envelulu-:1 or the like.

Specifically, the present invention is applicable in connection with the manufacture of the handled envelopes which forms the subject matter of my application, Serial No. 668.992. filed October 17. 1923.

The general and specific objects of the inention will be apparent to those skilled in the allied arts from the accompanying specification and the drawings which illustrate a preferred and a modified form of the invention. the novel features of which are contained in the appended claims. and in which drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a machine adapted for carrying out the method and indicating by dotted lines and an arrow. the preferred position of means for delivering articles to the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine:

Fig. 2" is a detail of means for guiding a paper strip and showing parts of the machine in dotted lines:

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the machine. on the line III-Ill, Fig. 1. parts being broken away:

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail. showing gage and co-operating platen:

Fig. i is a sectional detail of the strip feeding rolls. partly broken away:

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan partly in sec- Serial No. 741,180.

tion and broken away, showing certain details of the machine in normal position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the main ele ments of a strip feeding and minor member punching mechanism;

F ig. '1' is a vertical section at right angles to Fig. 6:

8 is a sectional detail showing the strip feeding rolls of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail side elevation of a considerable portion of the machine. showing article conditioning and minor member applying parts, and in which cer tain working parts of the machine may be assumed to be in normal position:

Fig. 10 is a similar side elevation in which the working parts are shown in another position:

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail plan view illustrating some of the working parts, and to show how a minor member may be preliminarily inserted into a perforation in an article;

Fig. 12 is a detail of the same parts illustrated in Fig. 11, showing them in different position. and in which the minor member has been fully inserted;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of platens and some of the working parts showing more in detail how the working parts apply a minor member to an article;

Fig. 14 is an exaggerated sectional detail view to show clearly how an article which is slitted may be conditioned or buckled at the slit. to facilitate the insertion of a minor member into the slit:

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic perspective view to illustrate successive steps in conditioning articles. such as envelopes for example, and for applying and permanently connecting the minor members to such articles:

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view show ing the slitted end of an open envelope hav- 111.! a closure flap at its mouth:

Fig. 17 is a similar perspective view in which a handle is shown as permanently attached to the flap of the envelope.

Fig. 18 is a section of Fig. 17 longitudinally through the handle of the envelope:

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic side elevation partly in sectional detail to illustrate means for conducting articles. such as envelopes for example,- from an envelope making machine, to the machine of the present invention;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the parts shown in 19;

Fig. 21 is a plan illustrating a modified form of gripper means. for applying metallic clas fasteners to envelopes of the claspenve pe type, the gripper means being shown as having just received a fastener from the strip feeding and punching (evice.

Fig. 22 is a similar plan showing a clasp envelope, the gripper means, etc, having just received a metallic fastener thereto.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged sectional detail of the modification. showing an envelope about. to have a metallic fastener permanently se cured thereto; and

Fig. 24 is a sectional detail transverse to Fig. 23, showing the riveter more fully.

Article conveyor mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2-. 3 and 5 in particular of the drawings, the machine is provided with a frame 25 on which apair of parallel track rails 26, 27 are mounted rigidly. At the ends of the frame are preferably hex agonal sprocket wheels 28. :29 which are rcspectively fixed on shafts 28, 29 that extend transversely of and are mounted on the frame 25. The sprocket wheels are provided with spaced recessed lugs 30, in the recesses of which engage the pivots 31 of the hinges which connect the Links 32 of the endless chain conveyor which carries the articles from. the receiving to the discharge end of the machine. These links are also clearly shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive. Each of the links constitutes a platen adapted t support the article to be conditioned and while a minor member is being applied. and. for the sake of lightness, each link-platen may have openings 33. However. it obvious that in practice each platen may have an unperforated surface for supporting the article.

Preferably, each link-platen 32 is provided with gaging means at its receding edge for the purpose of engaging the rear edge ot' the article supported on the platen. such means being preferably in the form of recessed and adjustable gage lugs 34, so that the edge of the article may engage in the re cesses. It is assumed that the machine of the present invention is to condition cnvt lopes, and hence. envelopes 35 are illustrated. and it is also assumed that the envelopes are to be provided with perforations 3:?" which here take the form of slits. For the purpose of gaging those edges of the articles which are not gaged by the gage lugs 34 but are at right angles thereto, a stationary side gage 36 may be mounted on that portion of the frame of the machine towards which he articles. are delivered as from an envelope machine, for example. The lower edge ol the side gage 36 enters a groove 37 m platen as the conveyor or endless The linieplatens 32 are providcd with guides 37* which engage the paralscl track rails 26, 27, and guide the linkplatens in a straight line.

The )resent invention is specifically shown conditioning envelopes for the attachment f inor members, the envelopes being illustrated as slitted transversely, in the walls which support the closure flaps, (see Fig. 16) to facilitate the application to each envelope of a closing and carrying handle which is securely attached directly to the outer end of the flap (see Figs. 17, 18). One form of such envelopes with a carrying handle is shown and described in my aforesaid applica tion.

The travelling conveyor or endless chain shown as driven from a main power shaft which is mounted in bearings along One side of the frame 25, and on said shaft there is fixed a. worm 39 that is in mesh with a worm wheel 4-0 fixed on shaft 28 of the con veyor. so that,'in the preferred form of the invention, a continuous feed motion without hziltmay be imparted to the conveyor.

Strip feed'z'nr and handfe forming mechanism.

This mechanism is more particularly illus rated in Figs. 1 to inclusive and Figs. (3. 7 and 8. A punch frame 41 is supported on the main frame 25 and carries a sup-porting: hraeket ll in which moves a punch 42. The punch isto punch and strike out minor members. such as handles for example, from a strip 4.3 of sheet material, which in the case n? the forn'iation of handles for envelopes would be paper or the like, preferably stiffer than the material of the envelopes. Interinittently rotatable mutnally geared rolls l4. -15 are provh'lei'l for feeding toe strip 43 to the punch. and the strip may be supplied from a suitable roll of strip material. The punch frame supports a horizontal guide 47 for guiding the strip to the punch. A fly whit-cl 4S raiuunted on the crank shaft. 49 which carries a pitman rod 50 which is pivoted to link 5. loosely mounted on shaft 52 r-f the strip teed roll a l so that it may be oscillated. sprocket chain 53 passes over sproci-rct wheels (A. 55. respecti\'cl ti1-1ed ".Jll the main power shaft 38 and the crank shaft 1-9 that operates thepunch. For operating the punch. the crank shaft 4.) is connected by a pitman rod 56 thereto.

The mun-rd fee. rolls 44. 45 are operated from the linl: 5-. to which end (here is pivoted thereon a pawl 57 adapted to (H-- gag-e with a ratchet wheel 58 that is fix-ed on the shaft 52. The punch 42 is adapted to cooperate with a stationary die 59 for the purpose of forming minor members. such as handles. from the strip 43. Associated with the punch is a stripper plate. 60 which adapted to disengage the punched-out member from the punch. A discharge chute 61 is provided for conducting the waste material from the punch. It is ob ious that the punching mechanism dc scribed is only one of the many conventional forms which may be employed: with an intermittent feed of strip. however. For supporting the feed rolls 44. 45. the punch frame is provided with brackets 62 and these brackets, at the delivery side of the feed rolls. are. provided with paper supporting ledges 63. As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, a curved strip guide 64 is provided which is fixed rigidly to and hangs below the brackets 62, so that it is located between the feed rolls and the roll of strip material. The strip guide 64 is preferably provided with a retaining latch 64 to hold the strip in place while it is moving.

.Xs specifically shown and descri ed. the punch mechanism is more particularly adapted for punching and strikintr handles or other closure members for euro lopes or the lil'e. from a strip of sheetmaterial and for feeding: the strip intermittently. as well as for holding the handles unt l each of them has been gripped by another feature of the present invention. the punchin; mechanism being so timed that a handle is not released until t has been gripped.

tll

Per /012 15. 2 and (rum/:1 in the articles arch (w envelopes.

The mechanism for this purpos is clea" illustrated n l lfIR. 5. 9 and 1 w illustrate instrumentalities which are pre"- erahlv timed to the movement. of the conv yor chain for he purpose of conditioning: the envelopes or other articles. In order to hold the articles or envelopes 3 a a nst he gag s and in proper registration with the platens ot' the endle s conveyor. slightly yielding h ld-down fr tion strips 6:" o\'- tend lonefitudiually of th tran'ie 525 t s y above the nnpcr lap o the endless chain. The forward ends the hold-down slrlln; (i?) are rigidlv attae-hwl t the crossbar (a of the cro sdiars (3.3, G5" wh ch are vifridly suppmed nn supportin11 l r-rs ('36. (i? that extend longitudina ly o he 'zflfltlllnt and are rieidlv tired to the u h ldi outgodown strips 65 are t re-.- towrrds ing end of the machine and sex-riin halt! the arti les. such a r-nv l pes. (lat against the platens while th "a -I s 3-? push th vclopc throne'h the zaa hine and m ni-roan:- the friction of the hold-dow strip Th without the use of any additional means for holdin the envelopes in place. the envelopes are fret;- to fall from the machine by their own gravity as they pass away from under the hold-down :trips by turning downward around the rear sprockets of the endless Jerahly. there is mounted in hearings on the stationary supporting bars (56, G7. a transverse shaft (Ed on one end of wh ch there is fixed a gum transfer-wheel (39 adaphsd to take. gum or paste from the ,Q'llll. reservoir T01 shaft T1 is geared with shaft '18 and at one rnd it is provided with a toothed wheel 72. he .eeth of which are. in inlernie hine engagement at all times with hoics T3 in the link-platens. Mounted on the other end of shaft 71 is a glimmer 7% to which gum is transferred hy the transfer wheel ($9. The object of the gun-liner 74 is to apply a stripe. of gum to each of the articles as they are moving: continuously zzndcr thigununcr 7-1. and in the case of ch re {lap envelopes. the gum would be tlhgillttl in stripes to the outer ends of the flaps.

In this connection. it may be stated that it will he oln'ous to envelope manufacturera that the stripes of gum may be applied in: the env lope machine to that portion of the )E!" from which the envelope closure flaps made. or to the said flaps when the envelopes re heing' made. and before they reach that portion of the present machine to which the envelop s are delivered from the envelope machine.

At, that side. of the machine on which portions of the articles to be gummed are located. and alonewhirh they move, the cone spending end of each platen-link is preferably provided with i rhtly projecting movable studs 75 havingrounded contact ends and adapted to raise the closure flap above the level of ea h platen for the gumming operation. the gummer 7% not extending far enough downward to contactwith the face of. the platen. and the. studs F5 hein; supponed on flat springs 76 which project the rounded ends of the studs through holes in the platen. The studs T5 move inward when Dressed by a minor member attachingroller to e sul'isequcntly described. Thus. in the event that an article should be missing from a platen no gum from .Z'tlllllllQl T-t can touch the platen.

The haft Tl lnrrigidly mounted thereon a disl: 7? preferably provided with two slitter'" T8. The nhiect (it these slitters is to -;lit. the mater a of the articles. such as cnvelopes for c. :::mple. in any form so ion as the form ot' therevolving slitter corresponds with and l t' into a slot. 79 in the platen. ln the specific machine illustrated. the slitters 78 will at 35 transversely sll those walls of the closure. [laps of the envclopc to which the flaps are attached. and along a line parallel with the fold hncs ot l ltl the said flaps. The machine may furthermore be provided with a revolving scorer 78" for forming the fold lines of the flaps in case the [laps have not already been provided with fold lines within the envelope making machine itself.

Preferably also. the machine is provided directly at one side of the slots 79 in the platens. with a hold-down wire 79 which is fixed at one end to the bar and is free at the other end. The hold-down wire or the like may be held against undue lateral motion by having it engage in a groove T9 in the disk 77 to keep it close to the slitter while the slit-ting is being done, for the purpose of preventing the envelope or other article from being picked up by the revolving slitter and to prevent the material of the article from buckling or getting out of position during the slitting operation.

Handle gripping and advancing mec/mm'a-m.

For a complete understanding of this portion of the machine. reference may he had to Figs. 1. 3. 5 and 9 to 13. In this; embodiment of the invention. the minor members. such as handles. are intermittently fed in the direction of the running of the articles without interrupting the continuous progress of the articles past the location where the minor members are applied. Each linkplaten of the travelling conveyor or endless chain is provided with a carrying lug 89 that is designed to ultimately advance the gripper, to be now described. in substantially the same direction as that in which the arti cles travel and also to maintain the advance until each handle has been properly inserted in each envelope.

A gripper 81 is provided, to which minor members. such as handles. are delivered one at a time from the punching mechanism here inbefore described or from other mechanism designed to prepare minor members for application to articles. Preferably. the gripper 81 comprises a head 82 which carries a lower jaw 83 and an upper jaw 84. both jaws being preferably of spring metal and being rigidly secured to the head 82 so that the jaws oppose each other and are free to flex. The upper jaw is provided with a plnralit of pressure screws 85 having rounded pressure faces or ends which project into the gap between the jaws. The gripper head 92 is carried by a shank 86 and said shank is provided with a fork 88 through which passes a pin 89 mounted in a slot 90 of a guide plate 91. so that the said shank and the gripper are prevented from rotating on the axis of the shank. The slot in the guidr plate 91 and the said pin 89 will also permit the gripper and shank to have a movement lateral of the travelling movement of the link-platens past it.

Guide plate 91 is mounted on and extends laterally of one end of a bar 92, and said bar constitutes a push bar. The bar 92 is guided in guides 93 which are rigid on the frame 25 of the machine, and prevent the bar from rotating. For the purpose of retracting the bar 92 and to return it to normal position after it has acted as a push bar, one end of a spring 94 is attached to the bar and the other end is fixed to the cross-bar 65 A gravitating dog 95 is pivoted to the bar 92 at 96 and is provided with a lateral tooth 97, said dog being adapted to be engaged successively by the lugs 80 on each link-platen. 'hen this occurs, the bar 92 and the parts operated thereby will be pushed, at a speed equivalent to the speed of the platens, for a short distance until the tooth 97 of the dog comes in contact with a stationary tripping member 98 on the frame of the machine, which will act to release the dog from the pushing lug 80 so that the spring 94 will retract the bar 92 and the ripper movement governing mechanic-n1.

This mechanism best illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 9 to 13 inclusive. Preferably. the means for initially governing and timing the governing movement of the gripper comprises a earn 100 on the end of each link-platen. Each cam may have suitable cam or pattern faces depending upon the L l V nznure ()1 the movement it if; desired that the ,Q'ripper shall follow. As shown however, and for the specific purpose herein outlined, each cam 100 is provided with an inclined 'ItlIl face 101 located at the forward end of the cam. It is furthermore provided with a duel. portion 102 an'l following that with a second inclined face 103. l ollowing the cam face 103. there is an idle portion which forms a second dwell portion llhland is much longer than the dwell portion 102. Following the second dwell portion 10 the cam is provided with a retraction or release incline 105.

lever 106 is provided with a lateral projection 10? and is mounted on a pivot 108 whi h is fixed on the frame of the machine, and said lever has. a long and a short arm, the lateral projection 107 being on the short arm anal carrying a cam roller 109 which is adapted to come in contact, as hereinafter described, with the irregular pattern face of Lil) llu

the cam 100. One end of a leaf spring 110 is rigidly mounted at 111 on the frame 25 0f the machine and the other end of said spring bears upon a roller 112 on the arm 107.

A link 113 is connected by a universal joint 114 with the long arm of lever 106 and by a universal joint 115 with the lower end of a lever 116. Lever 116 is mounted on a pivot 117 carried by a cross-bar 118 that is rigidly secured to the supporting bars 66, 67 which extend longitudinal of the machine. The lever 116 projects above the pivot 117 through a slot 119 in the cross-bar 118, so that said lever 116 may be oscillated in one direction or the other. The longer upper arm 120 of the lever 116 has adj ustably mounted thereupon a bearing block 121, provided with a pivot 122 on which is borne one end of a link 123 that is longer than the link 113. The other end of the link 123 is pivoted at 125 within the fork of a pivot block 124. A stationary guide rod 126 extends transversely of the direction of mo vement of the articles in the machine and one end is supported by a bracket 127 which is mounted on the supporting bar 67. The other end of the guide rod 126 is rigidly held by the upper end of a supporting arm 128, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted on the bolt 129, by the head of which the said arm 128 may be rigidly held to support the guide rod 126.

Guide rod 126 constitutes a support and guide for what might be termed a shuttle. The shuttle may be said to comprise the guide 87. before referred to, for the shank of the gripper 81, the guide sleeve 130 and the body 131 which carries both of said sleeves rigidly. The parts of the shuttle may be made in one piece.

Gripper movement governing mechanism with hondie Whipping and advancing mechanism.

The manner in which the cooperation or synchronization of these two mechanisms takes place may perhaps be best understood by reference to Figs. 3. 5, 9 and 13. Refer ring to Fig. 5, the gripper 81 is shown in position for gripping a handie which has been just cut from, or is about to be cut from, the strip of which it is made by the punching mechanism. Before a handle. such as 140, is separated from the original strip of material by the punch which has already punched a hole in the adjacent pou tion of the strip, the feed rolls 44, (Fig. 4') cause one edge of the forward perforated end of the strip to be advanced and inserted in between the rounded pressure ends of the screws 85 and the lower jaw of the gripper. it requires some pressure by the forward end of the strip to introduce thev partially formed handle 140 between the rounded ends of the screws and the lower jaw of the gripper, but this pressing movement of the strip will not carry the gripper with it at all. This is due to the fact that the pressure screws 85 are so far away from the axis of the station ary transverse rod 126 on which the shuttle 89, 130, 131 is supported and in such relation to the diameter of such rod and the length of the sleeve 130 surrounding such rod (see Figs. 5, 9 and 10) that a locking ac-- tion between the rod 126 and the said shuttle is effected by the pressure referred to, so that pressure directed in a line parallel to the strip material against the gripper 81, at the pressure screws 85, does not act to push the gripper along the transverse rod 126 but, on the contrary, acts to lock the gripper to the rod, and the harder the pressure exerted the tighter the gripper is automatically bound and locked in normal position for work upon the advancing envelopes.

Before the gripper 81 partakes of any movement, the punch 42 Will have severed the handle 140 from the strip of material. The mechanisms which control the gripper are so timed with reference to the punching movement that the gripper will not commence to move until a handle has been completely formed and gripped. The endless conveyor being in continuous motion with out interruption. the cams 100 on the linkplatens will be moved in succession past the location in which the handles are advanced by the gripper and applied to the envelopes supported on the link-platens. As one cam 100 after the other reaches the predeter mined location, the action of the mechanism will be as follows: The first cam face 101 of cam 100 will bear upon roller 109 on the lever 106 until the roller reaches the first dwell face 102 and will act to compress the spring 110. During this action by the cam face 101, the levers 106 and 116 are actuated and the link 123 operated so as to overcome the locking tendency of the shuttle and move the gripper 81, carrying the handle 140, from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 11, which will effectuate a slight insertion of the terminal of the handle into the slit 35 in the envelope. At a predetermined time during this movement, the pushing lug 80 on one of the platrns will have come into engagement with the dog 95, with the result that the slide bar is pushed along at the same rate of speed as the platens 32 are taking. Therefore, the -ia'ripper 81 carries the handle 140 in perfect time ith the envelope. having the slit 35 into which the handle has been preliminarily inserted. by reason of the before described movement which is controlled by incline 101 of cam 100.

By the time the roller 109 has reached the dwell face 102, the slit 35 in the envelope spring 110 is further compressed, and the lateral motion of the gripper 81 is continued for accomplishing the complete insertion of the terminal of the handle into the slit 35 as shown in Fig. 12, but during this lateral movement, the envelopes are continuing their travel and the gripper 81 is likewise moving along at the same speed under actuation by the lug 80 and the dog 96. While the roller 109 is travelling upon the second dwell portion 104, the inward movement of the governing mechanism is discontinued, and the gripper and the handle are still moving at the speed of the platens, and they so move until the handle has been positively Withdrawn from the gripper in the manner hereinafter described. During the movement of the gripper 81 with the attached handle at the speed of the platens 32, it is clear that the guide plate 91 guides the gripper and its shank 86' laterally of the push bar 92 by reason of the pin 89 sliding in the slot 90. Also, during the forward movement of the gripper 81, the shank 86 thereof will slide longitudinally in the guide sleeve 87 of the shuttle and the shuttle will 'move on guide rod 126 laterally of the direction of travel of the platens. Hence, in this particular embodiment of the invention, a compound movement will be imparted to the gripper, both in the general direction of ens, towards the particular envelope which is to be provided with the handle held by the gripper.

When the roller 109 is travelling upon the release incline 105 of the cam 100, the governing mechanism which is controlled by the said cam and the advancing mechanism which is controlled by the lug 80 on each platen are allowed to return to normal position, so that the gripper 81 is also brought back to the normal position shown in Fig. 5. The return of the gripper movement governing mechanism is brought about by the action of the spring 110 on the lever 106, and the return of the handle gripping and advancing mechanism is brought about by reason of the fact that the dog 95 is carried into contact with the tripping member 98 shown in Fig. 9, thus allowing the spring 94 to retract the said advancing mechanism.

Envelope buckling and slit opening mew/1L8.

envelope or other article by buckling or deforming the material directly surrounding the slit, so as to condition the material with a view to facilitating the direction of the terminal of the handle 140' into the slit when the handle is moved as above described, by means of the gripper 81. While the buck ling operation around the slit 35" is being accomplished, the hold-down Wire 79* is acting at its free end to press the mouth portion of the envelope down upon the platen. To serve to properly direct the forward end of the strip 43, from which the minor members or handles are being formed, before a partly formed handle has been gripped by the gripper 81, a hold-down foot 133 is provided, the same being located on the lower end of a rod 134 mounted adjustably upon the punch frame.

Preferably that portion of the buckling means, which is carried by the platens, con sists of two adjustable hard metal plates 135, 133, plate 135 being permanently attached by means of its countersunk fastening screws 136, within a depression 137 formed in the upper surface of the platen. and the plate 135 being secured in said depression by countersunk screws 136*. The slot 79 in each platen also extends between the plates 135, 135*, so that the slitters 78, before described, can enter the slot 79. The adjustability of the plates enables them to be set so that they will bear more or less on the sides of the slitters 78 as they enter slot 79. The plate 135 is provided with a rib or hump 138, which extends parallel with the slot 79 in the platen, and is located a short distance inwardly from said slot and is adapted to assist in buckling the article on the platen and opening its slit 35". The rib or hump 138 is provided with a guiding surface 139 which is inclined upwardly away from the slot 79 in the platen. By this inclined surface the terminal of each handle 140 or minor member is guided as will be hereinafter described.

A stem Ill is mounted so as to be vertically movable in a bracket 14:1 mounted rigidly on the supporting bar 66, said stem being held in upper position by means of a spring 142. Located upon the stem 141 is a stop 143 to limit the upward movement of said stem by in'ipinging against bracket 141. The stem 141 is adapted to operate on a presser-foot- 144, mounted on the lower end thereof, and which is constructed in such a way as to cooperate with the rib or hump 138 for buckling the material of the article on the platen.

The presser-foot 144 extends over the slot 79 in each platen as it is passing the presserfoot 144. With reference to Fig. 14, the right-hand end of the p-resser-foot has a toe 145 which has an upwardly and outwardly inclined deflecting surface 146. Beyond the toe 145 the presser-toot is provided with an inclined deflecting finger 147. Said deflecting: finger 147 and inclined surface 146 prevent the terminal of a minor member or handle from curlin upwards away from the platens, for it is necessary to guide the. terminal end towards the platens. The lefthand and of the presser-foot 144, with refcrence to Fig. 14, has a shoe 148 which ex-.

tends downwardly and towards the toe 145, and has its end portion 149 curved upwardly. It will be observed that the toe 145 of the presser-foot will be located to one s de of the slit 35 in the article on the platen,

when said slit comes under the pressenfoot. that the curved terminal 149 of the shoe 148 will be located to the other side of said slit. and that the rib or hump 138 will be. located intermediately of toe 145 and shoe te minal 149. It is obvious that the material of. an article having a slit and wh ch is .ioved-a ong under the toe 145 and shoe. 148 of the presser-foot. if the presser-foot is depressed, and over the rib or hump 138, w ll result n buckling the material of the article and will open up the slit.

As before described. each link-platen 32 is provided with driving holes 73. A toothed wheel 150 is adapted to engage in said holes 73 as the conveyor or endless chain travels, said wheel heir; fixed on shaft 151 which extends transversely and is supported in hearings on the longitudinal supporting bars 66. 67. The sha ft 151 is provided with two tappets 152. 153 arranged d ametrically of the shaft. so as to extend in opposite directionsv Tn Fig. 9 one of the tappets is shown about to come in contact with means for acting on the pressenfoot 144. so as to dep e s the same for the buckling operation. In the posit on of the parts shown in Fig. 9. the g ipper 81 is in normal position and has just stripped a handle or minor member 140.

A D es r-foot depressing bar 154 is operahlo hv the tapp ts 152. 153. to which end the depre sing bar 154 is mounted loosely in a hraclsrt 155 which hangs loosely from a shaft 164 hereinafter referred to. The debar 154 is under the influence of a spr .56. which acts to hold the shoulder port on 157 of said bar into contact with the bracket .55. In this way. the depressing vieldingly held in normal position I '(m shou der 157 and the spring 156 st; in 158 is adjustably mounted upon the depressing bar 154 by means of set screws 159. the said strip having a nose 160 with an inclined face wh ch is adapted to be engaged by one of the tappets 152, 153 with a view to depressin the bar 154.

The nose 160 on the depressing bar 154 is provided hack of the. high point of the inclined face thereof with a square shoulder 160?. so that if the shaft 151 was accidentally turning in the Wrong direction, the tappets thereon would strike the square shoulder 160 and push the bar 154 backwardly against the action of the spring 156, and the presserfoot 144 would not be operatecand thus pressed. down upon the material which is to be buckled up. This renrmrs the machine fool-proof. In order that the depressing bar 154 may act to operate on the presser-foot to depress it, the said bar. is provided with an elongated fork 161 which is loose engagement with a reduced or notched portion of the stem 141, so that the said bar is held against rotation.

The operation of the article buckling and slit opening means is as follows:

As the gripper 81 moves with a gripped handle 140 from the normal position, shown in Fig. 5, to the position shown in Fig. 12, it will he remembered that the resultant of the combined movements imparted to the gripper is on a slant with respect to the line of travel of the articles, or rather, the line of movement of the slits 35* in the articles. While the gripper and the gripped handle are so moving, the article-on the platen, which has arrived in the location where a handle or minor member 140 is to be applied, will have its material buckled up at the slit in the article in some such manner as is shown in Fig. 14. The inwardly moving minor member or handle, carried by the gripper 81. will, as shown in Fig. 14, have its terminal deflected by reason of its movement against the deflecting surfaces 147, 146 on the. presser-foot. and the nose 145 of the pre ser-toot will press the said terminal against the material of the article which is at the outer side of the slit 35 therein, so that the continued inward movement of the handle or minor member 140 will push the said terminal into the opened slit to preliminarily insert it as shown in Fig. 11. It will he understood that at this moment the inward shoe 148 is bearing upon the material of the envelope and pressing the material at a point adjacent to the slit, upon the rib or hump 138, so that the slit is opened up in both directions away from the general plane of the envelope. While this preliminary introduction of the handle or minor member into the slit 35 is occurring, the tappct is hearing on the inclined face of the nose 160 01" the depressing bar, to move it to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, and the cam roller 109 on lever 106 is hearing upon the first inclined face 101 of the cam 100. which has been before explained. In other words, the inclined face the minor member pass under it.

101 on the cam is to impart a momentary action to the buckling mechanism sufficient to buckle the material of the article and open its slit; however, this is accomplished while the plat-ens are in motion without halt. After the opening of the slit of an article the tappet 152 for example and which has just engaged with the nose 160 of bar 154 to depress the presser-foot 144, passes the nose 160, as shown in F ig. 10, and the pressei footis immediately raised by the action of the spring 142. This escapement of the preseer foot 144 takes place while the cam roller 109 is on the first dwell face 102. Further action of the buckling mechanism -is not required at this time because the terminal of minor member 140 has been preliminarily introduced into slit 35. It is now a very simple matter for the minor member applying motion of the gripper to complete the insertion of the minor member into the slit, as shown in Fig. 12; all while the envelope is in motion. The complete sertion of the minor member into slit 35 is facilitated by reason of its terminal being deflected and guided by the incline 139 of the rib, or hump 138, and such complete insertion, as shown in Fig. 12 is done while the cam roller 109 is hearing on the second inclined face 103 of the cam.

The tappet shaft 151 supports a pressure roller 162, which is so located on the said shaft as to engage a minor member. already applied to an article. when thearticle and The function of this roller 162 is to pull the minor member 140. which has been fully inserted into the slit 35 of an article, away fromv the gripper 81 holding it and also to press the base of the handle or minor member upon the gum which has been applied to the article, preliminary to the insertion of a minor member into the slit of the article, as before explained.

The principal operations of the specifically described conditioning and the minor member applying and attaching mechanism may be comprehensively seen from the diagram, Fig. 15, which shows certain steps in succession. namely: the step A of slit-ting by slitter 7 8 those walls of envelopes 35 to which the closure flaps are attached, and which step may involve gumming by gummer 74; step B which shows an envelope after its flap has been gummed and a handle 140 has just been gripped by the gripper 81; step C which shows that the gripper has been gi we a movement su-llicient to preliminarily lllill'fiduce the terminal of a handle into the opened slit 35 of the envelope; step D which shows that the gripper 81 has completed it; movement inwardly for the insertion of the handle into the slit to apply the handle to the envelope; and step E which shows the gripper as having completed its advancing motion in the direction of movement of the envelopes so that the minor member has been brought in contact with the pressure roller 162 which is about to withdraw the handle from the gripper.

Printing means.

The printing means is sufiiciently illustrated in Figs. 1, 9 and 10, and comprise a toothed wheel 163 which adapted to constantly mesh with the carrying holes 73 of the link-platens as the platens travel along, and this wheel is mounted upon a shaft 164 which is journaled in bearings of the longitudinal supporting bars (36, 67. Upon the shaft there are printing segnmnts 165, the printing faces of which may be constructed in any Well known manner to preferably printor emboss the minor members attached tothe articles carried along by the endless conveyor.

En'velo e all-"9971 mechanism.

This mechanism is intended to deliver envelopes having open closure flaps from an envelope making machine to the machine involved herein, and constitutes a transfer means which may be of any desired con struction, and the construction is shown more or less diagrammatically in Figs. 19 and 20, these being merely for the sake of explanation and to generally show means for rapidly delivering envelopes to the maahine from the envelope machine. Reference may also be had to Fig. 1 which indicates the envelope supply or transfer mecha nism in dotted lines, and by a lateral arrow indicates the direction of movement of the envelopes to the present machine.

To take the envelopes 35 from the envelope machine rollers 170, 171 are provided, the same advancing the number of envelopes continuously and offsetting them within their pass. The envelopes thus partly offset will be further offset by reason of being carried upwardly at an incline, the carrying means omprising a pair of rollers 172, another pair of rollers 173 and a third pair of rollers 174.. the passes between the pairs being arranged on an incline to furnish an inclined pass for the envelopes. The lower ones of the pairs of rollers 172, 173, 174 are of increased diameter successively :1 way from the rollers 170, 171, so that a stepped-up peripheral speed may be imparted to the lower rollers by their drive belt. The result will be that the envelopes will be progressively and quickly separated from each other and will follow each other n rapid succession when they have reached a pair of take-off rollers 175. 176.

As above explained, each platen is provided with gages 3 1 and there is another Fig. 1), the 'age 36 will stop the movement of each envelope onto the present machine, so that one envelope at a time will be deposited upon a platen.

Preferably located opposite the envelope supply mechanism and above the platen conveyor, there is a flexible centering" member 177, which may be in the form of a cylindrical brush. The frame 25 of the machine is provided with bearings 1'78, 179, and these bearings are so arranged as to support at an inclination a shaft 180 on which the flexible centering member 177 is mounted. The shaft 180 is continuously rotated by suitable means so that as each envelope or other article is delivered onto a platen under the centering member 177, the inclination at which the centering member is arranged will enable the said member to push the article or envelope delivered into the angle formed between the gages 3e and the gage 36. The article or envelope supported on the platen will thus be centered thereon and will be in proper position for the conditioning or other work which is subsequently to be performed thereon.

Means for securing clasp fasteners t0 envelopes.

This embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 21 to 24 inclusive. In these views of this modification, the instrumentalities for actually applying and permanently securing clasp fasteners to envelopes or other sheet articles are shown, together with such parts of the preferred form of the invention as are necessary to show how such instrumentalities may be adapted to the preferred form.

The link-platens 32 of the endless on veyor are here shown as imperforate, and no preliminary perforation of the center-seam clasp-envelope type of envelopes, such as 182, is presumed to have taken place. Parts 87, 131 of the shuttle and parts of the operating link 123, tappet shaft 151 and depressing bar 154 are shown.

In this modification a metallic clasp fastener 183 having a single claspwing is to be applied to an envelope 182 by means of a gripper 184 which is rigidly mounted on the shank 86. The envelopes are mov ing continuously past the pun-"h 185. indicatcd in dotted lines in Fig. 21, which punches and cuts of? fasteners or closure members 188 from an intermittently fed metallic strip 186. The gripper COlYlplisQr;

a lower jaw 187 and a spring upper jaw 188, the two jaw extending at right angles to a member 189 which is integral with jaw 187. At a point remote. from the jaws 187, 188 and in line with the longitudinal axis of the strip 186, the member 189 has an anvil 180" which is messed to upset the eyelet. or rivet 183 which has been formed on the fastener 183 by the punch 185, shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the terminal of the clasp wing being gripped by the jaws 187. 188 to hold the eyelet 183 in register with the anvil 189 Guard fingers 190 of spring metal are fixed at one end to the gripper-jaw 187, and extend inwardly in parallelism away from said jaw so that the fastener 183 held by the jaws is 10:;ated between the fingers 190. A riveting tool or upsetter 191 is rigidly fixed ii; the adjacent end of the depressing bar 1. 4.

In operation, the jaws of gripper 184 will take the clasp fasteners 183 successively away from the punch 185 and will carry a fastener, with its eyeleted end foremost, to-

wards the center-seam envelope which is in continuous motion. The movement of the gripper is controlled of course in the same or some such way as before described. The anvil member 189 and the fastener 183 will be pushed over the opposite surfaces of the non-flap wall of the envelope 182, so that they are in the position shown in Figs. 22 and 23. At the proper time, the depressing bar 180 will be operated by tappet 152 so as to cause the riveting tool 191 to upset the eyelet 188 against anvil portion 189 and permanently secure the fastener to the envelope.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the various arts to which this invention is applicable that the invention may be variously modified as by omitting and adding mechanism or by substituting other equivalent mechanism. without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

\Vhat I claim. as new is:

1. The method herein described, including moving sheet articles, in substantially fiat form continuously in succession past a location where. minor members are to be applied. and delivering the minor members to and immediately connecting them interlockingly with the actual material of the articles at such location while the articles are moving.

2. The method herein described, including moving perforated sheet articles continuously in succession past a location where minor members are to be applied, guiding the minor members in succession to, and applying them at such location into the perforations of the articles, while the articles are moving.

8. The method herein described, including moving perforated sheet articles continuously in succession past a location where minor members are to be applied, and guiding the minor members in succession to, applying: them at such location into the perforations of the articles. and permanen y securing the minor members as so gll 

